The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

Action on Integrated Development (AID) Society, an NGO, on Saturday suggested prohibition of smoking at drug treatment and rehabilitation centres to lessen possibilities of re-addiction to drugs of the patients.

"Possibility of re-addiction to drugs becomes lesser if the addicts give up smoking along with drugs," the organization said in a statement issued after it held a seminar.

"It is essential to make drug treatment and rehabilitation centres smoke-free as among drug addicts 99 percent start with smoking", it said.

The statement said almost each drug addiction treatment centre supplies 8 to 12 cigarettes to the drug addicts daily which hamper recuperation of the patients.

Citing a study it said about 12 lakh people are affected by 8 major diseases due to the use of tobacco annually.

Aid Society organized the seminar titled "Smoke Free Drug Addiction Treatment and Rehabilitation Center" jointly with NARCOB, a network of drug addiction and treatment centres with the support of World Health Organization (WHO) at Dhaka Ahsania Mission Bhaban Auditorium.

Presided over by NARCOB Convener Brother Rabi P Purification, Narcotics Control Department Director General M Humayun Kabir was present as the chief guest at the seminar.

Home Ministry Deputy Secretary M Salimullah and WHO Technical Officer Dr Iqbal Kabir were present as special guests. Narcotic Control Directorate Deputy Director Abu Taleb was the main speaker in the seminar.